Actors The Best English Actors of All Time

List Rules Male actors from England, dead or alive. Vote based on their entire body of work.

Some of the best actors of all time hail from England, and whether you love these English men for their acting talents or just their accents, there's no denying that many of these English actors are among some of the best actors in film history. Whether living or dead, these men made England a top source for acting talent in Hollywood and will go down in history as the best.

Who are the all-time top English actors in film history? Some of these actors from England became famous for roles as Americans, as Jedi (hi, Alec Guinness!), as detectives, and any number of other memorable characters. There's just something about these English gentlemen that movie audiences love, and their fantastic acting abilities have made many of them award winners as well.

This list features the greatest English actors of all time including Charlie Chaplin, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christian Bale, Cary Grant, David Niven, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Ewan McGregor. Don't see your favorite actor from England? Add him below so other film fans can vote. Then, be sure to vote and rerank the list according to who you think are the best English actors to have ever graced the screen.

list ordered by

1

1,683 591

Alan RickmanDie Hard, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman is an English actor. Rickman is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in both modern and classical theatre productions. His breakout performance was as the ...more

2

1,359 543

Ian McKellenThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, X-Men Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He is the recipient of six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BIF Award, two Saturn ...more

3

1,314 539

Gary OldmanThe Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, filmmaker, and musician. Oldman rose to prominence in the United Kingdom with his portrayals of Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy and Joe Orton in Prick Up ...more

4

1,156 573

Michael CaineThe Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins Sir Michael Caine, CBE, is an English actor and author. Renowned for his distinctive Cockney accent, Caine has appeared in over 115 films and is one of the UK's most recognisable actors. He made ...more

5

1,095 654

Daniel Day-LewisGangs of New York, The Last of the Mohicans, There Will Be Blood Sir Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is an English actor. He holds both British and Irish citizenship. Born and raised in London, he excelled on stage at the National Youth Theatre, before being ...more

6

1,092 481

Patrick StewartX-Men, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men 2 Sir Patrick Stewart OBE is an English film, television, and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career on stage and screen. He is most widely known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard ...more

7

955 529

Christopher LeeThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ, is an English actor, singer and author. Lee initially portrayed villains and became best known for his role as Count Dracula in a string of ...more

8

752 538

Alec GuinnessStar Wars, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi Sir Alec Guinness, CH CBE was an English actor. After an early career on the stage he was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including The Ladykillers and Kind Hearts and Coronets in ...more

9

807 482

Ralph FiennesSchindler's List, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, is an English actor. A noted Shakespeare interpreter, he first achieved success onstage at the Royal National Theatre. Fiennes' portrayal of Nazi war ...more

10

712 503

Jeremy IronsThe Lion King, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Time Machine Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many ...more

11

813 444

John HurtAlien, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Sir John Vincent Hurt, CBE is an English actor. Hurt has had a career spanning six decades and initially came to prominence for his supporting role as Richard Rich in the film A Man for All ...more

12

816 568

Colin FirthThe English Patient, The King's Speech, Shakespeare in Love Colin Andrew Firth, CBE is an English film, television, and theatre actor. His films have grossed more than $3 billion from 42 releases worldwide. He has received an Academy Award, a Golden ...more

13

634 525

Laurence OlivierSpartacus, Clash of the Titans, Rebecca Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. He also ...more

14

967 629

Benedict CumberbatchStar Trek Into Darkness, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, 12 Years a Slave Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English actor and film producer who has performed in film, television, theatre and radio. The son of actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham, he ...more

15

853 619

Christian BaleThe Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. He has starred in both blockbuster films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. Bale first caught the public eye at ...more

16

713 434

Hugh Laurie101 Dalmatians, Monsters vs. Aliens, Sense and Sensibility James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE, known professionally as Hugh Laurie, is an English actor, writer, director, musician and comedian. He first became known as one-half of the Fry and Laurie double ...more

17

713 442

Charlie ChaplinCity Lights, The Gold Rush, Modern Times Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor and filmmaker who rose to fame in the silent film era. Chaplin became a worldwide icon through his screen persona ...more

18

777 505

Ben KingsleySchindler's List, Iron Man 3, Shutter Island Sir Ben Kingsley is an English actor. In a career spanning over 40 years, he has won an Oscar, Grammy, BAFTA, two Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards. He is known for his starring role ...more

19

502 353

JackEck added Richard HarrisGladiator, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer, theatrical producer, film director and writer. He appeared on stage and in many films, appearing as Frank Machin in This Sporting Life, and ...more

20

603 503

Cary GrantNorth by Northwest, Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday Cary Grant was an English stage and Hollywood film actor who became an American citizen in 1942. Known for his transatlantic accent, debonair demeanor and "dashing good looks", Grant ...more

21

679 433

Tom HiddlestonThe Avengers, Thor, Thor: The Dark World Thomas William "Tom" Hiddleston is an English actor. He is known for playing the character of Loki in the Marvel Studios films Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World. He has also ...more

22

633 420

John CleeseMonty Python and the Holy Grail, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report. In the ...more

23

613 412

Martin FreemanShaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Love Actually Martin John Christopher Freeman is an English actor, best known for portraying Tim Canterbury in the UK version of the sitcom mockumentary The Office, Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama ...more

24

650 469

Sean BeanThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Shaun Mark "Sean" Bean is an English actor. Bean first found success for his portrayal of Richard Sharpe in the ITV series Sharpe. He has since garnered further recognition for his ...more

25

491 470

Peter SellersDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Pink Panther, Being There Peter Sellers, CBE was a British film actor, comedian and singer. He performed in the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show, featured on a number of hit comic songs and became known to a ...more

26

564 359

Bill NighyShaun of the Dead, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Hot Fuzz William Francis "Bill" Nighy is an English actor. He worked in theatre and television before his first cinema role in 1981, and made his name in television with The Men's Room in 1991, ...more

27

358 200

vida-so added Michael FassbenderInglourious Basterds, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past Michael Fassbender is a German-Irish actor and producer. His first screen role was in the 2000 TV miniseries, Hearts and Bones, followed by the 2001 television miniseries Band of Brothers. He ...more

28

136 16

Ildikó Hirschleger added Anthony HopkinsThe Silence of the Lambs, Thor, Thor: The Dark World Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE is a Welsh actor of film, stage, and television, and a composer and painter. After graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1957, he ...more

29

338 145

vida-so added Eddie RedmayneLes Misérables, The Good Shepherd, My Week with Marilyn Edward John David "Eddie" Redmayne is an English actor, singer and model. He started his professional career as an actor in both theatre and television roles in the early 2000s and ...more

30

642 405

Ewan McGregorStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Trainspotting Ewan Gordon McGregor, OBE is a Scottish actor who has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. His first professional role was in 1993, when he won a leading role in the Channel 4 ...more

31

279 122

Tom Islava added Tim CurryThe Little Mermaid, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Timothy James "Tim" Curry is an English actor, singer, and composer, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film, and television productions, often portraying villainous ...more

32

563 343

Tom HardyThe Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Black Hawk Down Edward Thomas Hardy, CBE (born 15 September 1977) is an English actor, producer, and former model. Hardy made his film debut in Ridley Scotts Black Hawk Down (2001), and has since had notable ...more

33

516 321

Idris ElbaThor, Thor: The Dark World, Prometheus Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British actor, producer, singer, rapper, and DJ. Elba is best known for his portrayal of drug lord and aspiring businessman Russell "Stringer" ...more

34

178 73

SandyQ8 added Kenneth BranaghThor, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Thor: The Dark World Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh is an actor, director, producer and screenwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has directed or starred in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's ...more

35

391 425

David NivenThe Pink Panther, Mutiny on the Bounty, Murder by Death James David Graham Niven was an English actor and novelist who was popular in Europe and in the United States. He may be best known for his roles as Squadron Leader Peter Carter in A Matter of ...more

36

165 76

SandyQ8 added Geoffrey RushFinding Nemo, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Geoffrey Roy Rush AC is an Australian actor and film producer. He is the youngest of the few people who have won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an ...more

37

516 380

Daniel CraigCasino Royale, Skyfall, Road to Perdition Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. Cast as the fictional British secret agent James Bond 007 in October 2005, his first film in the role, Casino Royale, was released in theatres ...more

38

173 71

SandyQ8 added Peter O'TooleLawrence of Arabia, Ratatouille, Prometheus Peter Seamus O'Toole was a British-Irish stage and film actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at ...more

39

410 378

Simon PeggStar Trek, Shaun of the Dead, Star Trek Into Darkness Simon John Pegg is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer. Pegg is best known for having co-written and starred in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy of films, consisting ...more

40

330 164

SamSmiley added David TennantHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, How to Train Your Dragon, Fright Night David Tennant is a Scottish actor known for his roles as the Tenth Doctor in the British television series Doctor Who, Alec Hardy in Broadchurch, Giacomo Casanova in the TV serial Casanova and ...more

41

307 293

Richard BurtonThe Longest Day, Cleopatra, Where Eagles Dare Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role (without ever ...more

42

500 434

Jude LawHugo, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Grand Budapest Hotel David Jude Heyworth Law, known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director. He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first ...more

43

416 301

Alex Donoso added Hugh DancyBlack Hawk Down, Ella Enchanted, King Arthur Hugh Michael Horace Dancy is an English actor and model. He is best known for his roles as Will Graham in the television series Hannibal and as Prince Charmont in Ella Enchanted. In 2006, he was ...more

44

244 167

DennisScottMoore added Richard AttenboroughJurassic Park, The Great Escape, The Lost World: Jurassic Park Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE was an English actor, film director, film producer, entrepreneur and politician. He was the President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ...more

45

248 238

SeanDorman added Peter CushingStar Wars, Lolita, Dracula Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor and a BAFTA TV Award Best Actor winner in 1956. He is mainly known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the sinister ...more

46

150 71

SandyQ8 added Stephen FryAlice in Wonderland, V for Vendetta, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Stephen John Fry is an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and activist. After a troubled childhood and adolescence, during which he was expelled from two schools and spent three months ...more

47

181 57

SandyQ8 added David ThewlisThe Big Lebowski, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 David Thewlis is an English actor of stage and screen. His most commercially successful role to date has been that of Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter film series. Other notable performances ...more

48

453 384

Rowan AtkinsonThe Lion King, Love Actually, Rat Race Rowan Sebastian Atkinson, CBE is an English actor, comedian, and screenwriter best known for his work on the sitcoms Mr. Bean and Blackadder. Atkinson first came to prominence in the sketch ...more

49

172 89

Tom Islava added Andy SerkisThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Andrew Clement "Andy" Serkis is an English film actor, director and author. He is known for his performance capture roles comprising motion capture acting, animation and voice work for ...more

50

160 203

Peter UstinovSpartacus, Robin Hood, Logan's Run Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov, CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, ...more

not on the list? add item #102

List Rules: Male actors from England, dead or alive. Vote based on their entire body of work.